Subaru Technica Electric? Subaru trademarks new STe logo hinting at electric STI successor sub-brand

There’s a new bit of hope from a very unlikely source for Subaru fans lamenting the demise of its iconic WRX STI.

The German Patent and Trade Mark Office - yes, there and nowhere else yet - published a register entry that shows Subaru has applied for a trademark on a new logo, depicting ‘STe’ in red and blue.

It doesn’t use the double-lined letters of the current STI logo, and the image published with the application is a two-dimensional, relatively low-resolution one, but it opens the door for the possibility that Subaru is planning a new badge.

While brands regularly trademark model names, badge designations, and branding phrases to protect them from rival brands or opportunists, the STe logo is original and seems like a perfect fit for an electric performance sub-brand successor to STI.

While the full-fat STI models are slim on the ground at the moment, STI parts and styling carries on, with the brand confirming there’s not going to be a WRX STI in its current generation.

The brand did however say in March 2022 that it was exploring electrification for the future of the WRX STI.

“Subaru Corporation is exploring opportunities for the next generation Subaru WRX STI, including electrification,” a Subaru statement read. 

“In the meantime, a next generation internal combustion engine WRX STI will not be produced based upon the new WRX platform.

“As we look to the future, we also look forward to incorporating the essence of STI into our next generation of vehicles.”

There’s currently no public filing in the Australian Government’s trademark listings, nor in the US Patent and Trademark Office, so if Subaru is planning an STe sub-brand, it’s a while away.